A Levy to Continue Support for our Park

Background

In 2018, a tax levy was passed to support operations and improvements to the Underwood Community Center and Park. In the six years since that levy was passed, the community of Underwood and the UPRD have made tremendous strides in making the Community Center and Park a tremendous resource for residents of Underwood and the greater Gorge community at large. In November of 2024, Proposition #1 will be a measure on the ballot to continue on-going support and reliable funding for the Underwood Park and Recreation District in their effort to maintain and develop this exceptional community resource.

YOUR LOCAL BALLOT BOX

Underwood Park is home to a secure ballot box! Located on the east end of the parking lot of the Community Center, feel free to drop your ballots there through 8 pm on November 5, 2024.

Important FAQ’s

This is not a new tax. It’s a ballot measure to renew an existing tax levy, which secures a modest, reliable income source for maintaining operations and services at the Underwood Community Center and Park. In November 2016, voters of Underwood created a park and recreation district and elected five commissioners to serve as stewards of the property when the community center building and grounds were heading for the county surplus list and slated to be torn down. In 2018, a small tax levy was passed to support operations at the park. With a modest amount of funding secured, ownership of the Underwood Park property and buildings was officially deeded to residents of Underwood in 2019.

But with ownership came responsibility for all the expenses formerly paid by the county. Insurance, utilities, and repairs must be paid by the UPRD and any future improvements. The UPRD budget is available and shows that the rental income and usage fees generated by the buildings and property will not cover those expenses. During COVID-19, rental income went to nearly zero. Covid has shown us that we need a modest amount of tax income to pay the PUD, insurance bills, etc. Donations and grants will only add an irregular amount of income to the UPRD bank account. The need for regular, reliable income to fund Underwood Park’s operation is now clearer than ever before.

The Underwood Park is so much more than a public outdoor place for gathering! Our property is home to a children’s playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, pickleball courts, a community garden and resource room, baseball and soccer fields, an RC arena, covered picnic areas, a community BBQ, and a community center with a gym, stage, kitchen and meeting room for community events and programming. The UPRD also manages the rental cottage and post office building on park grounds, next to the community center and playground.

  • We need a small tax base to cover the basic expenses required to keep the Community Center open and available to the community. Rental income and grants are one part of the equation, but they are variable and not always reliable, as seen during the pandemic when rental revenues fell close to zero. 
  • The post office relies on the UPRD to provide a facility for services. There is no guarantee that a post office would remain in Underwood if the UPRD is not funded through taxes.
  • The park offers facilities, services, and events for the entire family, many of which are free of charge.
  • The Community Center and Park are centrally located for community gatherings, picnics, public meetings, rummage sales, cultural events, recreation, and educational programming.
  • Event space is available for rent at a reasonable cost to community members for family reunions, birthday parties, weddings, meetings, athletic events, and more.
  • The Community Center is being equipped to serve as Underwood’s hub for emergency services should a crisis arise. It is the only property on the eastern side of the county that is capable of serving in this capacity.
  • The property and buildings are historically significant to our neighborhood and region.

The proposed tax levy is to continue the current $0.20 tax per $1000 of assessed property value. This is not a new tax. For the average Underwood property, ranging from $300,000 to $400,000, that would mean continuing an annual tax of $60-$80 per year, or $5-$6.67 per month. That, along with donations, grants, usage fees, and rental income, will allow Underwood Park to remain a public resource and asset for our community.

Underwood is geographically isolated in the event of a major emergency. We are 20+/- miles from Stevenson, the county seat, and if a catastrophic emergency occurs, we will be largely on our own for a considerable amount of time. Underwood Park is the only potential Emergency Shelter at the eastern end of Skamania County. In the coming years, the UPRD has outlined plans to make the Community Center an official emergency facility, complete with a generator and other essentials for residents.

A Board of Commissioners is elected to lead the UPRD and they are your neighbors and fellow Underwoodians. They want to hear from you about the future of our Underwood Park. UPRD governance is hyper-local. Do you have ideas about programs and events you would like to see at the Community Center or Park? The UPRD has regular monthly meetings, a website, and commissioners who are available and waiting to hear your ideas and suggestions.

Did You Know?

Since the passage of the original levy, the UPRD and neighborhood committees have accomplished the following projects and improvements for residents at the Community Center:

  • Created an Emergency Room with Ham Radio.

  • Registered with the Red Cross as an Emergency Shelter.

  • Insulated the Community Center for year-round use.

  • Upgraded the building with LED lighting.

  • Built a new commissary kitchen.

  • Painted the the Meeting Room and laid new flooring.

  • Remodeled the bathrooms and fixed plumbing.

  • Replaced gym windows, added stage curtains and improved sound baffles.

  • Reinforced the attic, installed gutters and french drains.

  • Resurfaced the gym floor, painted and purchased a professional floor cleaning machine.

  • Planted shade trees and revitalized park irrigation.

  • Installed a walking trail with new benches.

Because of those improvements, the Park & Community Center are able to:

  • Serve as an Emergency Evacuation Center for residents of Underwood.

  • Host weekly Adult Recreation programs, like pickleball games and basketball practices.

  • Deliver instructor-led fitness classes weekly to residents.

  • Organized monthly community meetings and special civic events like Candidates Night.

  • Serve as a event space for birthday parties, family reunions, weddings and other celebrations.

  • Offer monthly skate nights and other programs for children.

  • Become an official location for Red Cross Blood Drives six times a year.

  • Organize fundraisers for local charities and causes.

  • Create a revenue stream for additional improvements through facility rentals.

  • Provide space for approximately 60+ small events and 20+ large events per year.

Talk with Your Neighbors

Regardless of which way you vote, sharing information about the impact of Proposition #1 is critically important. Feel free to share this post with neighbors and friends. Below you’ll find a rack card and informational flyer from community supporters of the measure. Printed rack cards are available at the community center for individuals who wish to canvas door to door. All campaign materials on this website or elsewhere have been funded by private donations.

Join our Mailing List

Stay current on events, information, resources, and community happenings with our community newsletter. We’ll deliver news from the UPRD and Friends of Underwood once a month and occasionally send event updates and notices, too. You can opt-out anytime, and we’ll never sell or share your information with others.

Contact Us


Community Center and Park
951 School House Rd.
Underwood, WA 98651

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

Underwood Park & Recreation District
PO Box 172
Underwood, WA 98651

Email
underwoodparkandrec@gmail.com

Phone
509-972-6400